Despite the obvious severity of the California drought and repeated conservation warnings from the state, water usage has actually INCREASED in some areas, mostly notably piggish southern California, which was up 8%. So, California is now mandating that certain types of water waste are criminal acts similar to a speeding ticket and subject to $500 a day fines. This includes hosing down driveways and sidewalks and letting landscape water drain into the street.

“Not everyone in California realizes how bad this drought is,” said Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board. Speaking of the May data, she said, “Folks just didn’t get how bad this is and how bad it could be. We are really in desperate times.”

Agriculture is exempted, so the whole thing is a bit of a joke isn’t it? Sue and I are moving to Vegas soon. They get it about water there and have for years. California is still in denial, apparently living in a dream world about water.